Phillippe making directorial debut with ‘Shreveport’

Thesp also wrote and will star in indie thriller

Ryan Phillippe, who starred in Paul Haggis’ “Crash” and Clint Eastwood’s “Flags of Our Fathers,” is set to make his own directorial debut with “Shreveport,” an indie thriller in which he’ll also star.

Phillippe will play a fading movie star who is suddenly kidnapped, held hostage and tortured while filming a low-budget film in the Louisiana city.

Helmer wrote the script with Joe Gossett, and he’ll also produce with Holly Wiersma (“Bobby”) and Mark Burg (“Saw”), the latter of whom is financing the project through his Twisted Pictures banner. Cassian Elwes and Mike Menchell will exec produce with Dan Heffner. Stuart Ford and IM Global will handle foreigh rights on the picture, which will lense this summer in Louisiana.

Phillippe has had plenty of experience on set, learning from a range of accomplished filmmakers. His acting career started with a stint on the ABC soap “One Life to Live,” which led to a key role in Ridley Scott’s 1996 drama “White Squall.” After a breakout perf in the hit slasher pic “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” he landed lead roles in “54,” “Cruel Intentions” and Christopher McQuarrie’s directorial debut “The Way of the Gun.” After supporting roles in “Gosford Park,” “Igby Goes Down” and Oscar winner “Crash,” he resumed the role of leading man in “Breach,” “Stop-Loss” and “Flags.” Thesp’s recent credits include “MacGruber” and “The Lincoln Lawyer,” and he’ll soon be seen in “Straight A’s” and “Revenge For Jolly!”